Tech coach remains optimistic in face of two straight losses

Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville remains optimistic as he searches for answers to his team’s slow starts and its lack of consistency on defense.

Going into Tech’s game Saturday at the Cotton Bowl, Tuberville knows the Red Raiders can’t allow the Baylor Bears to jump out to an early lead,

That’s precisely what killed the Red Raiders last week in a 52-38 loss at Iowa State.

The Cyclones, taking advantage of Red Raiders’ defensive breakdowns, raced to a 24-0 lead. Tech tied it 24-all in the second half, only to watch as Iowa State pulled away at the end.

“We can catch up because we throw the ball pretty well,” Tuberville said, “It’s just (a matter of) being able to keep that consistency going. We didn’t play very well, obviously, on defense. We couldn’t make a play.”

As a result, the Red Raiders (2-2, 0-2 in the Big 12 South) lost their second game in a row and now find themselves winless in conference leading into the second weekend of October.

It’s a tough stretch for the Red Raiders, as they leave Lubbock for three of the next four weeks. After Saturday’s game in Dallas, they play at home against 22nd-ranked Oklahoma State and then finish the month with road games at Colorado and Texas A&M.

“We’ve got to be able to start a game,” Tuberville said. “We’ve got to build more confidence in our players. …We’ve just got to relax and go out and make plays and have fun. I think we’re pressing too much early.”

Surprising Baylor (4-1, 1-0) is coming off a record-setting, 55-7 victory over Kansas.

The Bears’ potential to move the ball in big chunks of yardage is a concern for Tuberville, who finds himself struggling in his first season after taking over for Mike Leach.

In his weekly teleconference with reporters, Tuberville expressed particular concern about the hot hand of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin.

“They’re a team that’s obviously got a lot of firepower,” Tuberville said. “They’ve got a very, very good quarterback. You know, I didn’t know a lot about him, not being in this conference. … The size that he has and the quickness. He’s very underrated in terms of throwing the football.

“He continues to get better, unfortunately. … He’s a big-time football player, as good as any in the country.”

As for his team, Tuberville remains upbeat about the potential of a Red Raiders turnaround — even the defense, which is giving up 30 points and 380 yards per game.

Tech ranks last in scoring defense in the conference.

“Obviously, that’s not a strength of ours right now,” Tuberville said. “It hadn’t been a strength in the past. But we’re going to try to make it better — with the players we’ve got. We’re not looking forward to next year. We want it to be done now.

“I want these guys to have a chance to win some games. if they keep working like they’re working, I think they will.”